‘Making sure all people are represented’

Changed school policies cover diversity, reading proficiency

NEW ULM -- Policy changes favoring increased reading proficiency, diversity, and inclusivity were unanimously approved by the New Ulm School Board Thursday.

Several new definitions were added to the School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals policies. Alongside academic standards, benchmarks, and curriculum are the terms antiracist, ethnic studies, and institutional racism.

These new terms describe eliminating racism, studying structures that produce disadvantages for people of color, and ensuring content and practices infuse the culture of different ethnic groups otherwise erased through the education system. Superintendent Sean Koster said these changes were decided by the state government.

"First it comes out of St. Paul from the legislature," he said. "Then the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) takes the recommended policies we use, takes what passed in statute, and applies it into the policies themselves. When we take it from MSBA, we adopt the changes they made."

Koster believes the inclusion of these terms opens up new opportunities for students to develop critical thinking skills and see other points of view. He said this was intended by the state legislature and MSBA.

"I think they want the state to make sure all schools are looking through different lenses. [Doing so] when they’re picking through curriculum, when they’re adopting curriculum, and making sure curriculum companies are aware the state’s holding them to a high standard. Making sure all people are represented in the curriculum we’re putting forward and all voices are heard. This includes voices of their ethnicity [through different subjects]. How they impacted US history or mathematics, for example."

Two changes were made to the Curriculum Development policy to reflect this direction. The first seeks to make the curriculum antiracist, culturally sustaining, and a reflection of student population diversity. The second identifies curriculum and learning environments. It states they should validate, affirm, embrace, and integrate the cultural strengths of all ethnic groups.

A new policy has been enacted as a result of legislative and MSBA changes. Called "Literacy and the Read Act", the policy seeks to better cover and assess students’ reading ability. Koster said this is vastly expanded from what was used previously.

"The Read Act is a much more comprehensive way they are approaching literacy for K-3," he said. "Instead of having a little segment in the world’s best workforce [section], they pass The Read Act. This is going to require a lot of professional development and a lot of training. They have upped the game for student literacy in the state of Minnesota."

Board member Denny Waloch made the motion to approve changes in the selected policies and enactment of new policies. Board member Amanda Groebner seconded.